Thursday, April 24, 2008

Son of Rambow

If you saw Be Kind Rewind and thought something was missing, well, you were right. It's hard to put a finger on it, but the film was a noble effort that just didn't feel complete.Son of Rambow, on the other hand, the first/second film by Hammer & Tongs, the guys who did Hitchhiker's Guide, totally executes a similar idea (making home movies, though here the film is a 'sequel' rather than a remake) but light years better. Part of it's the fact that the home filmmakers are children. Part of it is that the story doesn't take a backseat to the idea. Whatever it is, the film's quite good. Will Poulter, who plays Lee Carter, is really phenomenal and ought to get lots and lots of recognition. Bill Milner, as Will Proudfoot, also does a fine job as the picture of innocence and Rambo's wee British son.

It's just a silly, fun movie about two boys with crap family lives (well, Lee Carter's family's crap--Proudfoot's just a part of a Quaker-type religion that prevents him from being a typical entertainment-saturated child) who become friends, make a movie, watch it all fall apart, and then, well, you'll see. Because you should really see the movie. It's charming as all get out.